Who is Georgia judge Stephen Yekel? What we know of state court judge who died last day in office

Georgia’s State Court Judge Stephen Yekel passed away on December 31, 2024. Authorities predicted that he died by suicide. His body was recovered from the courtroom by Effingham County Sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday morning, which was also his last day in office.

The Judge appeared to have shot himself multiple times. However, the cause of death is yet to be revealed after an autopsy is conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Stephen Yekel was appointed a State Court Judge in 2022 and had more than 45 years of experience. He was admitted to the state bar on June 14, 1976.

Yekel was an alumnus of Gordon Military College and Auburn University. He received his law degree from the Atlanta Law School. From 1993 to 2005, he worked as a temporary judge at Chatham County Recorder’s Court. He also had a private practice where he handled more than 500 cases.

He abided by the philosophy of being the most qualified for the role, citing his experience as a police officer, a prosecutor, and a defense attorney. Judge Yekel was also involved in community work as he held membership in Cobb County Fugitive Squad.

Stephen Yekel's administrative roles included scheduling pending civil cases to assess the need for trials while aiming to reduce the backlog. Yekel also focused on collecting over $200,000 in state court fines stemming from suspended sentences.

He also introduced a new domestic violence policy ensuring victims were notified of all court appearances and consulted regarding case dispositions.

Judge Yekel’s ethical standpoint was his commitment to upholding dignity, respect, and impartiality throughout his service. He ensured fair and equal treatment for all individuals, regardless of whether legal counsel represented them. He is also a father to four children.

Here’s all we know after Judge Stephen Yekel’s death

A deputy discovered Yekel’s body after authorities responded to a report of a possible suicide at the courthouse around 10:20 a.m. on December 31, 2024. The Governor’s office also received a note from the Judge, but details regarding its contents have not been disclosed.

According to reports, Stephen Yekel lost re-election run because of which his term ended on December 31, 2024. Reportedly, he tried to resign from his position, but was not permitted to do so by Governor Brian Kemp.

Per NBC News, he had initially won the first round of voting in May 2024, but later lost in a runoff. He requested that his resignation as State Court Judge of Effingham be effective on December 30, 2024, a day before the end of his term.

However, Governor Kemp denied Stephen Yekel's request, asserting that the results of a fair election could not be overturned due to what he described as a manufactured legal technicality.

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Although the Governor’s office could not share details about the ongoing investigation with media outlets, it extended thoughts and prayers to Yekel’s family and loved ones.

The courtroom will remain closed until January 2, 2025. Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie said the situation was more difficult for the family as the incident happened during a joyful time.

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